Featured at RoséFest 2026
De Kleine Wijn was one of the bottles that quietly surprised people at RoséFest. A lot of guests walked up expecting another easy pink wine and ended up finding something with much more depth and structure underneath it. Made from Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre in South Africa’s Tulbagh valley, it drinks more like a southern Rhône rosé than classic Provence. The color runs deeper, the fruit leans darker, and the wine carries a savory edge that makes it feel especially comfortable with food. It is still fresh and easy to drink, just with more shape and texture than people usually expect from rosé.
Quick Facts
- Region: Tulbagh, South Africa
- Appellation: Western Cape
- Variety / Blend: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre
- Vintage: 2025
- Style: Structured, Rhône-inspired rosé
- Farming: Minimal intervention farming and cellar work
- Winemaking: Small-production GSM rosé made in a gravity-flow cellar
- ABV: 12.5%
- RoséFest Category: Discovery Bottle
- Best For: Grilled food, charcuterie, Mediterranean cooking, Rhône wine lovers
Tasting Profile
- Aromas: Cherry, cranberry, wild herbs, spice, dried flowers
- Palate: Savory, textured, and dry with darker red fruit, spice, and fresh acidity
- Finish: Long, lightly earthy, and food-driven
- Serve With: Lamb, grilled chicken, charcuterie, roasted vegetables, Mediterranean dishes, or anything off the grill
Why We Love It at Petit Philippe
We loved this wine because it completely avoided the generic side of rosé. The GSM blend gives it more depth and shape than most pale summer rosés, but it still stays fresh and drinkable. There is also something very honest about it. It tastes like a wine made by people more focused on farming and balance than chasing a trend. This was one of the strongest examples at RoséFest of how much character South African wine can deliver once you move outside the more familiar regions and styles.
Our Rosé Pick this Season
This is the bottle for people who want rosé with actual weight behind it. It works especially well for dinner, grilling outside, or anyone who normally leans toward Rhône reds and wants something lighter without losing that savory character. If you usually find pale Provence rosé too delicate or forgettable, this is a very easy bottle to connect with.
Winemaking
De Kleine Wijn Koöp is a small-production project based in South Africa’s Tulbagh valley, where warm days and cool mountain nights help preserve freshness while allowing Rhône varieties to ripen fully. The wine is produced with a minimal-intervention approach in one of South Africa’s early gravity-flow cellars, helping preserve texture and balance without overworking the fruit. The Grenache brings brightness, the Syrah adds spice and freshness, and the Mourvèdre contributes structure and savory depth.
Serving & Pairing
Serve lightly chilled, around 50–55°F. This is a natural rosé for grilled food, especially lamb, chicken, vegetables, and Mediterranean flavors with herbs and olive oil. It also works very well with charcuterie and harder cheeses because of the wine’s savory structure and dryness.
Estate Overview
De Kleine Wijn Koöp is the project of husband-and-wife team Wynand and Anya Grobler, who relocated from Paarl to the mountain valley of Tulbagh to focus on small-production wines with a minimal-intervention philosophy. Wynand previously worked as cellarmaster at Rickety Bridge before launching the project independently. Today the winery operates out of the former Fable Mountain cellar, one of the early gravity-flow cellars in South Africa, producing Rhône-inspired wines that continue to build a strong following among buyers looking for more character-driven South African bottles.
